See why some materials — concrete and wood, glass and paint, brick and steel — just belong together | South Salem NY Homes
Material selection during the design process strongly determines architectural character, defining the overall look and feel of the composition and space. Architects draw upon many devices when developing a material palette. Selections can reference the site or adjacent structures, or can be drawn from local building conventions, the climate and weathering concerns, or the building form itself. Sometimes the selections are a result of a specific client directive or are a creative solution to the project’s budgetary constraints. Other considerations are the quality of light a material might render or its tactile quality and color.
Then there are those material and color combinations that just belong together, contrasting and complementing in perfect harmony. Let’s take a look at a few of those pairings.
Then there are those material and color combinations that just belong together, contrasting and complementing in perfect harmony. Let’s take a look at a few of those pairings.
Concrete + Wood
Cool gray punctuated by a warm wood: This combination of engineered and natural materials holds a special appeal for many. In this bath the process by which each material was created is expressed clearly.
The concrete was formed and cast in place. Upon deeper inspection, the grain of the plywood forms that held the concrete mix can be seen, along with a strict geometric pattern of holes. The holes represent the locations where metal form ties were used to keep the wall from bowing outward during the pouring and curing.
In contrast, in both color and scale, the Douglas fir has been milled into boards and installed in tight horizontal bands. The fir is a counterpoint to the cool gray concrete, and while it has been used on only one wall, its visual weight is significant. I particularly like how the subtle graining apparent in the concrete references the wood wall.
Cool gray punctuated by a warm wood: This combination of engineered and natural materials holds a special appeal for many. In this bath the process by which each material was created is expressed clearly.
The concrete was formed and cast in place. Upon deeper inspection, the grain of the plywood forms that held the concrete mix can be seen, along with a strict geometric pattern of holes. The holes represent the locations where metal form ties were used to keep the wall from bowing outward during the pouring and curing.
In contrast, in both color and scale, the Douglas fir has been milled into boards and installed in tight horizontal bands. The fir is a counterpoint to the cool gray concrete, and while it has been used on only one wall, its visual weight is significant. I particularly like how the subtle graining apparent in the concrete references the wood wall.
Here a medium brown wood on the ceiling lends the space a warm tone. When someone is seated, a room’s ceiling has a large impact on the visual perception of a space, which means a smaller amount of wood can be used on the ceiling to counterbalance the large mass of concrete walls and floor.
This space highlights a common design trick architects use when deciding how to use a material combination. By assigning very specific materials to specific surfaces — walls, ceilings, floors — we develop a logic about their application. In this case the ceiling planes are wood, and the solid exterior walls are concrete. We could even push the idea to the extreme by saying all horizontal planes here are wood, all vertical planes are concrete, all interior walls are board-formed concrete and all exterior walls are waxed concrete. You’ll see this technique used throughout this ideabook.
Why this marriage works: The character of a raw material, like concrete, is accentuated when used near a more tailored material, such as wood. And because gray is a neutral tone, it complements the tones found in natural woods.
This space highlights a common design trick architects use when deciding how to use a material combination. By assigning very specific materials to specific surfaces — walls, ceilings, floors — we develop a logic about their application. In this case the ceiling planes are wood, and the solid exterior walls are concrete. We could even push the idea to the extreme by saying all horizontal planes here are wood, all vertical planes are concrete, all interior walls are board-formed concrete and all exterior walls are waxed concrete. You’ll see this technique used throughout this ideabook.
Why this marriage works: The character of a raw material, like concrete, is accentuated when used near a more tailored material, such as wood. And because gray is a neutral tone, it complements the tones found in natural woods.
Steel + Wood
Like concrete, steel is an engineered material. But unlike concrete it appears light and very precise, a result of its fabrication process. Steel is often combined with wood for both aesthetic and practical reasons. In this case the wood gives the ceiling plane a warm brown tone, contrasting the cool gray industrial steel structure.
Practically speaking, wood allows us an efficient means for fastening common building components (made of wood) to the steel and also a means for insulating it. While extremely strong and able to span great distances, steel is also an excellent conductor of heat. This means we have to keep it from transferring heat between the interior and exterior of a building. Wood, meanwhile, is a poor conductor and is often seen attached to steel for this reason. Fastened to a steel support structure, wood provides a cavity within which we apply insulation.
Like concrete, steel is an engineered material. But unlike concrete it appears light and very precise, a result of its fabrication process. Steel is often combined with wood for both aesthetic and practical reasons. In this case the wood gives the ceiling plane a warm brown tone, contrasting the cool gray industrial steel structure.
Practically speaking, wood allows us an efficient means for fastening common building components (made of wood) to the steel and also a means for insulating it. While extremely strong and able to span great distances, steel is also an excellent conductor of heat. This means we have to keep it from transferring heat between the interior and exterior of a building. Wood, meanwhile, is a poor conductor and is often seen attached to steel for this reason. Fastened to a steel support structure, wood provides a cavity within which we apply insulation.
Here the architects have overlaid a wood “quilt” on the supporting steel structure. The steel beams carry the distributed roof loads from the wood skin above. Because wood isn’t able to span the great distances that steel can, its structural interval is smaller, and it is often used in a layered manner that creates a quilted effect. Exposing the structure to view is a wonderfully authentic expression of the structural (and thermal) concept.
Why this marriage works: Contrasting coloration calls attention to the functional duties of each component while displaying their inherent qualities — natural graining and machined precision.
Why this marriage works: Contrasting coloration calls attention to the functional duties of each component while displaying their inherent qualities — natural graining and machined precision.
Glass + Paint
The combination of a highly saturated paint and a single sheet of floor-to-ceiling clear glass appears effortless, understated and forceful. In small spaces this treatment can be used very effectively. Consider how this hallway would feel if the glass were replaced by a painted wall or if there were a busy combination of guardrail, newell post and balusters.
The painted stair element, along with the entry door and trim, are the dominant elements in this compressed space. There’s simply not enough visual room for competing objects, and the glazing insertion reflects this.
Why this marriage works: Glass allows deeply saturated paint colors to advance and is a classically modern complement to any color palette.
The combination of a highly saturated paint and a single sheet of floor-to-ceiling clear glass appears effortless, understated and forceful. In small spaces this treatment can be used very effectively. Consider how this hallway would feel if the glass were replaced by a painted wall or if there were a busy combination of guardrail, newell post and balusters.
The painted stair element, along with the entry door and trim, are the dominant elements in this compressed space. There’s simply not enough visual room for competing objects, and the glazing insertion reflects this.
Why this marriage works: Glass allows deeply saturated paint colors to advance and is a classically modern complement to any color palette.
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